Important Events Timeline

February 1932 - The Avon Fire Department is formed with 11 volunteer firefighters. They have a Peter Pirsch International engine, and are housed in a lean-to structure that is added onto Avon Village Hall at Detroit Road and Stoney Ridge Road. Edward Casper is named the first fire Chief; he will hold this position until 1945.

March 1934 - Avon Firefighters receive pay for the first time. They are paid $1 for emergencies, and are compensated for attending training sessions. Training is held twice a month, and firefighters receive 50 cents a session up to a maximum of $10 per year.

May 1936 - Records for the fire department are hand written logs, no actual reports. It appears that the first structure fire that the Avon Fire Department responded to was during this month, and is considered the Conrad fire.

January 1945 - Lee Hubbard is named Avon Fire Chief; he will hold this position until August 1951.

June 1946 - A new Ford/John Beam fire engine was delivered, purchased by the Avon Volunteer Fireman's Association. This organization is responsible for purchasing most of the fire department's early equipment. They hold fundraisers, including dances, fish fries and carnivals.

November 1946 - The Avon Firefighter's turkey raffle is held. This has remained an annual event for 60 years.

January 1947 - Annual report given for emergencies in 1946. There were 18 calls with a property damage total of $5,000. An average of seven firefighters responded per call.

May 1947 - A dodge emergency wagon is delivered to provide basic emergency aid. It carries oxygen for patients, but is not used for transporting victims. It is not until 1974 that the Avon Fire Department utilizes rescue squad for transporting patients.

January 1949 - A used fire engine was purchased from Perry Township Fire Department. This Seagraves engine was acquired to meet Avon Village's needed water fire flow. A new fire station is built along with the rest of the municipal complex, which houses city hall and the police department. Located at 36774 Detroit Road (Now the Avon Senior Center), it was utilized last he main fire station until April 2003.

August 1951 - Harold Smith is named Avon Fire Chief; he will hold this position until April 1975.

January 1953 - The Avon Fire Department responded to 51 emergencies in 1952. Most of these are field and woods fires. Two calls are house fires.

June 1953 – A tornado strikes Avon. The fire department assisted people on Kinzel, Stoney Ridge and Case roads. No fatalities reported.

June 1954 - First report of a dump fire at the former Avon Village dump on Miller Road. There would be several of these fires throughout the years, keeping the fire department busy for several hours at each incident. Many of these fires would be intentionally set.

November 1956 - First report of a fire engine being sent on mutual aid. The engine responded to a garage fire on Webber Road in Avon Lake.

January 1957 - Three house fires in one month keep the fire department busy.

November 1958 - Barn fires on Colorado Avenue and Center Road took place in a 48-hour period.

November 1962 - A new Ford/John Beam fire engine is delivered. A satellite station is built at Jaycox Road and Schwartz Road to house the fire apparatus, and to improve response time to the east side of town.

January 1963 - The Avon Fire Department responded to 65 emergencies in 1962.

August 1963 - A busy morning for the Avon Fire Department as a house and barn caught fire on Schwartz Road and two hours later, a barn caught fire on Nagel Road.

December 1967 - Two house fires hit Avon in 1 day.

October 1968 - The firemen's association appointed prior hires. Hiring of personnel is now done by the civil service process. The fire department's staffing is now at 20 firefighters.

December 1968 - A house fire on Detroit Road and a barn fire on Chester Road occur within 6 hours of each other.

May 1972 - A new Ford/John Beam fire engine is delivered. It is still in service as a reserve engine.

November 1973 - A new Ford emergency van is purchased. The van will carry rescue equipment for car accidents.

February 1974 - The Avon Fire Department takes over the ambulance service for the city of Avon. Burmeister's Funeral Home ran the service prior to this. A Ford extra wide van ambulance is purchased, and members of the fire department take emergency medical technician training. A reserve Chevrolet Suburban ambulance is purchased from Burmeister's; it is paid for by the Avon Firemen's Association.

January 1975 - After taking over the ambulance service, the call volume jumps to 163 emergencies, consisting of 68 fire calls and 95 medical emergencies. Staffing is at 30 firefighters.

April 1975 - A small propeller plane crashes at Nagel Road and Tullis Drive. The occupant survives.

August 1976 - A small airplane crashes at the old Avon Airport on Nagel Road.

November 1976 - Donald Casper is named Avon Fire Chief. The son of the first fire chief, Edward Casper, he will hold this position until October 1987.

November 1978 - Two fires at Van Sickle Corp. (now the site of Parker-Hannifan). These fires were magnesium based, which creates difficulty for firefighting because it is water reactive.

August 1979 - A Chevrolet four wheel drive mini-pumper is delivered. This versatile truck is used for off-the-road field fires, and is still in service.

March 1982 - Purchased a 1982 Ford/Wheelcoach rescue squad. It is the fire department's first modular style ambulance, allowing for more room for patient care.

January 1983 - The Avon Fire Department responds to 315 emergencies in 1982. This includes 61 fire calls and 254 medical emergencies.

October 1985 - The fire department increases fire safety talks to include kindergarten through third grade at public and parochial schools. This plays a large part in the rare instances of juvenile fire starters in the city of Avon. Over 1,500 school children received fire safety talks in 2006.

May 1987 - A small plane crash at Hilliard Lakes Golf Course claims the lives of all three occupants.

February 1988 - Frank Root Jr. is appointed Avon Fire Chief. He will hold this position until February 2006.

July 1988 - Busy month for the fire department with several field fires, and mutual aid calls to Elyria and Lorain fire departments.

December 1988 - One of the last big barn fires occurred on Center Road. As the city became less rural, the chance of large barn fires decreases.

February 1989 - Received first fire department car; an old police cruiser. It is used for fire personnel to attend meetings.

June 1990 - An FMC/Spartan fire engine is delivered. It is currently the second out engine. A Julian Street house fire nearly claims the life of the homeowner. A neighbor, John C. Gorey, pulled the man from the burning structure. The Avon Fire Department nominates Gorey for the Carnegie Award. He then goes on to win the national award for heroism.

October 1990 - Two house fires in 2 days hit Avon, one on Mills Road and one on French Creek Road.

August 1992 - The Avon Fire Department takes part in forming the Lorain County Hazardous Material Response Team. The entire fire department is trained to Hazmat operations level, with 3 members trained to Hazmat technician level.

January 1993 - The Avon Fire Department response to 381 emergencies in 1992. This includes 85 fire calls and 296 medical emergencies.

December 1993 - A Ford/Marque rescue squad is delivered. It is still a reserve ambulance.

August 1994 - A Detroit road man was killed in an apartment fire. Caused by careless smoking, this is the only recorded fire fatality in Avon's history.

August 1995 - A busy day for Avon firefighters, an early morning house fire on Oakwood Drive was especially difficult due to the outside temperature being in excess of 90 degrees. Two hours later they assist North Ridgeville Fire Department with a house fire on Otten Road. Several firefighters were overcome with heat exhaustion. A major storm hits Avon. The fire department responds to numerous hazardous conditions related to the storm. Though not classified as a tornado, a path of destruction is left on Detroit Road.

February 1996 - The fire department's 3 rescue divers join the Lorain County Dive Rescue Team. The department currently has five rescue divers. A rescue truck is put in service. Purchased for $25,000 from the Rocky River Fire Department, it is a 1991 International. $15,000 was put into the vehicle to convert it to carry specialty rescue equipment.

April 1996 - The dept received another retired cruiser. It was used as the fire chief's vehicle, and it is still in service.

November 1996 - A major fire strikes the Parker-Hannifan Corporation on Center Road. The million dollar fire is the largest dollar loss fire in Avon's history. Avon Lake, Bay Village and Westlake fire departments assisted on scene.

September 1997 - Avon firefighters begin a fundraising drive to purchase thermal imaging cameras. These cameras allow firefighters to see in smoke filled conditions in a structure fire.

February 1998 - Two Avon School buses are involved in an accident on Colorado Avenue. Rescue squads from Avon, Avon Lake and Sheffield Village fire departments transport 12 children. Different buses took the remaining children to St. John West Shore Hospital for evaluations. All injuries were minor.

March 1999 - A US Tanker/Spartan fire engine is delivered. It is currently the front line engine.

June 1999 - Leonard's Plumbing on Lear Industrial Parkway is destroyed by a late night fire. The $400,000 fire is extinguished with the help of Avon Lake and Westlake fire departments.

December 1999 - A major fire strikes H&J Automotive. A $250,000 fire occurred after midnight was extinguished with the help from a ladder company from Avon Lake.

May 2001 - A Ford/AEV rescue squad is put in service. It is currently the second out ambulance.

October 2001 - The largest single loss of life event occurs on Interstate 90. Two cars hit head-on killing all 5 occupants.

March 2002 - The dept. took delivery of a Ford excursion as a Rescue/Command vehicle. It is currently the fire chief's vehicle.

September 2002 - Firefighters save an elderly woman from a fire on Shakespeare Lane. Firefighters David Swope and David Conlon pulled the woman from the fire and smoke filled structure.

January 2003 - The Avon Fire Department responds to 1,062 emergencies in 2002. This includes 244 fire calls and 818 medical emergencies.

April 2003 - Avon's new fire station put in service. Located at 36185 Detroit Road, it takes the place of both volunteer stations. The state-of-the-art building is erected for $2.3 million.

July 2003 - Avon Fire Department goes full time. Three 24-hour shifts are created with a lieutenant and four firefighters per shift. Staff personnel of the chief, assistant chief and dispatcher work regular business days.

November 2003 - The fire department starts a car seat installation program. Car seat technicians ensure that child safety seats are installed properly. In 2006, they checked 250 vehicles. There are currently two car seat technicians.

December 2003 - A Christmas day house fire causes $100,000 dollars in damage. Ladder companies from Sheffield Village and Avon Lake help Avon firefighters battle the blaze.

January 2004 - A major fire strikes the Chemtron Corporation on Schneider Court. The fire makes national news, and does $700,000 in damage. The Avon Fire Department utilizes mutual aid ladder trucks from Avon Lake, North Ridgeville and Westlake fire departments.

February 2004 - In conjunction with the Avon Seniors Inc. association, the fire department starts a "lock box" program. This program benefits senior citizens with access for paramedics in the event of an emergency. 121 of these boxes were installed in 2006.

May 2004 - Two Avon Firefighters attend Tactical Paramedic school. This allows them to become part of the Lorain County SWAT Team.

September 2004 - A Ford/McCoy-Miller rescue squad is delivered. It is currently the front line ambulance.

October 2004 - The last two of the department's medical technicians complete paramedic training. Took delivery of a Ford 4-wheel drive pick up truck. It is used for off the road field fires and plowing snow.

March 2005 - The majority of the Avon Fire Department take a critical intensive care paramedic course. Upon completion they are capable of advanced medical skills including the use of 12-lead heart monitors.

October 2005 - New hires take the staffing levels up to 6 firefighters per shift.

November 2005 - Assistant Chief John Votava becomes the first full-time retiree. Assistant Chief Tim Golay takes over and currently holds this position.

January 2006 - The Lorain County Technical Rescue Response Team is formed. The Avon Fire Department commits to this effort and puts three firefighters on the team. The team works county wide for specialty rescues including trench rescue, rope rescue, structural collapse and confined space rescue.

February 2006 - Frank Root III is appointed Avon Fire Chief. He currently holds this position.

March 2006 - The third of three weather alert sirens is installed at Schwartz Road Park along with the sirens at Veteran's Park and behind the fire station, they alert the city in the event of a tornado. The sirens are paid for with the fire department's equipment levy.

April 2006 - The fire department extricates victims from a severe accident on Colorado Avenue. While putting the apparatus back in service, a large amount of smoke is seen from the south. It is a barn fire on Kinzel Road. Numerous farm animals perish in the blaze. The dept. received a Ford Explorer command vehicle. It is utilized as the Assistant Chief's vehicle.

May 2006 - The fire department receives a 14-foot Zodiac rescue boat with trailer. The boat is needed for the over 75 ponds and retention basins throughout the city, as well as French Creek. The boat and dive team is deployed for the Lake County floods. New hires takes the staffing levels to 7 firefighters per shift.

September 2006 - New promotions bring better structure to the fire department. Each shift now has a captain, a lieutenant and 5 firefighters per shift.

October 2006 - Construction begins on Avon Fire Department's first aerial apparatus. The KME 100-foot ladder/platform is scheduled for delivery in August 2007.

January 2007 - The Avon Fire Department responds to 1,807 emergencies in 2006. This includes 466 fire calls and 1,341 medical emergencies. There was $328,000 in fire loss. The Fire Prevention Bureau and company inspectors completed 571 building inspections. Fire department personnel flushed and service 1,716 hydrants.

May 2007 - New hires takes the staffing levels to 8 firefighters per shift.

September 2007 - The Avon Fire Department takes delivery of the first Aerial for the department. 75th Anniversary Parade is held with the new Aerial in the parade with many other fire departments and fire apparatus enthusiasts.

April 2008 - The Avon Fire Department responds to a basement fire. No citizen or firefighters were injured in the blaze, but the family lost the lives of their six cats.